Provides that only registered design professionals or employees with certified fire escape contractors are authorized to install, service, repair, inspect, and maintain fire escapes.*

The bill's title and purpose changed from 'fire escape inspections' to 'fire escape contractors.' The synopsis now states that only registered design professionals or employees with certified fire escape contractors are authorized to install, service, repair, inspect, and maintain fire escapes, broadening the range of permitted work beyond just inspections.

All amendments to P.L.1975, c.217 (State Uniform Construction Code Act) were struck. This removes provisions that would have required construction officials responsible for fire escapes to be structural engineers or architects, and removes the requirement that certificates of occupancy for buildings with fire escapes be verified by a structural engineer or architect.

References to 'exterior stairways' were removed throughout the bill. Fire escape contractors are no longer authorized to work on exterior stairways, and local enforcing agencies can no longer elect to inspect exterior stairways in lieu of state inspection under P.L.1983, c.383.

The definition of 'fire protection equipment' no longer includes 'fire escapes or exterior stairways' in its list, effectively removing fire escapes from the general fire protection equipment framework and treating them under a separate contractor category.

Three new definitions were added: 'fire escape' (an additional means of egress on an existing building where more than one exit is required and there is not sufficient space for an exterior stair within the lot line), 'fire escape contractor' (a person or entity offering to install, service, repair, inspect, or maintain fire escapes, who must be a licensed design professional or employee with a certified fire escape contractor), and 'registered design professional' (an architect or licensed professional engineer).

The rules and regulations section was expanded from requiring the commissioner to adopt rules about companies certified to 'conduct inspections on fire escapes and exterior stairways' to rules about companies certified to 'install, service, repair, inspect, or maintain fire escapes,' reflecting the broader scope of authorized work.